The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-29
NlRGINIA'S DEBT

VllsdINIA's DEBT
And Our Own Alleged Share OF It-Johnny
hull Mny Turn Ills Guns on Us.
Washington Special.
Tonight 1t 10 believed in the best.in.
formed official circles here that he mission
Of Sir Edward Thornton to this country in
behalf Of the British holders Of Virginia
bonds haa a deeper Significance than ap.
pears upon the surface OF thingu, It Ia be.
lieved the Salisbury Government has dele.
gated Sir Edward to confer with tho Viz.
glnia Legislature as tho prolessed repre-.
sentative Of the bondholdera, but as the
actual though undisclosed representative
Of the British Government, with the object
o. a%scertaining clearly the purpose OF tho
state oil Virginia relative to the portion Of
her debt held by British capitalists. 1t Ia
known that within the last week a letter
has been received here from London from
a party deeply interested In the result of
Sir Edwards miasion, saying that tho Sal
lsbury Cabinet had deemed 1t expcdient.
In view OF the %porteutious situation grow.
ing out OF the practical espousal Of the
cause Of Ireland by Gladstone, to resort TO
the tactics by which Disraeli was succese.
tul in diverting the attention OF the con.
tending parties at home-nanely, the
adoption OF a vigorous policy for the pro.
lection OF British interests abroad.
II POLICY OF pLusrRR.
The frat evidence of this now policv.
the letter says, wss the demand (executed
three weeks or more ago) for the instant
payment Of tho indebtedness Of the Hay.
ten Government to the English capital.
lsts. ~aggregating a million dollars. Almost
concurrently with this came the vigorous
order from the British Foreign Office Look
ing to the forcible collection from the Re.
public OF Veuezuela Of the JGlO, 900, 600 OF
Indebtedness due by Venezuela to British
capitalists. The latcst development known
in Washington {. the latter phase OF the
new Salisbury policy, is an apparently
well authenticated report thst the Britjsh
Minister at Caracas, Frederick Robert St,
John, had progressed go far in carrying
out the beliigerent policy OF bis Govern.
ment towards the Venezuelan Republic
that he had announced to President Guz.
man Blsnco his summary recall to Eng.
land.
THE V! o;s y. j s!a EDwhTb THORNTON.
/ III, l. u aud by iai ,1e most important
step OF this new policy for tho protection
Of suffering British interests is believed 10
be the sending OF Sir Edward Thornton to
confer with thu Legislature Of Richmond.
In connection with this latest phase ia
significantly considered the most extraor-
diasry proposition OF the Salisbury Cabi.
nat TO this cona!ty IN regard to the tisher-
les troubles. There are few, if any, diplo.
mntic people hero who believe that Great
Britain would have deliberately offered,
without All Interior motive, to surrender
S,500.0G0 the amount Of the Halifax
fisheries award, when the belief ia uniyer.
Sal among Englishmen that the Geneva
award exceeded by between seven and
eight million dollars the actual damage
done by the English.C Confederate priya.
teers Aiabama, Floiia, and Shenandoah.
1t ia surmised, and not without conuidors.
BILE plsnsibility, that this Interior motive
is closely associated with the British in.
tercs. involved in the settlement OF the
Virginia debt matter.
WORKING TIE SCHEME IN WEST VIRGINIA.
The British bondholdors have 10, some
years been making al effort at Richmond
to get the Legislature to adjust.heir claim
satisfactorily, but without result. Oper.
ating in conjueClion with them has been
a strong influence represented by a we'll.
known Wall street operator, j. @. Maben.
seeking to induce West Virginia to aesume
her share OF the debt. The brains OF tAja
Maben eide.show to the great British ne.
COLLATION. is a somewhat cratic but very
talented West firsinian, James NJ. Mason.
son Of the James NJ. Mason, OF Virginia
noted for his association with the Trent
affair in the rebellion, and for his distin.
guished services previously as a Senator
tIom Virginia. Mr.. Mason was recently
he!oret he, Legislature Of Weat Virginia, at
Charieaton, advocating a proposition
hedging upon an honest assumption by
Weet Virginia Of tho one third which ia
generally believed to be her legitimate
share OF the debt OF Virginia, but his ei.
iolts are thus far practically without re.
suit. Indeed, 30 barren OF satisfactory
resulta have been all elorta with either
the Virginia or the West Virginia Lecis.
la.uses toward occurring Il fair recognition
Of the great Virginia tebt that but little
patience se,paina with the long suffering
Eoelish creditora.
THR QUEENS MAYER.
Tho conclusion is believed to be that